Key takeaways:
Monistat (miconazole) is an antifungal medication that treats vaginal yeast infections. It’s available over the counter (OTC) as 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day products. You should check with your healthcare provider before starting it, especially if it’s your first vaginal yeast infection.
Monistat comes as a cream and/or suppository that’s inserted inside the vagina. It may start working within one day, but you should definitely feel improvement within 3 days. However, it can take a full 7 days for it to fully treat your infection.
The most common side effects of Monistat are vaginal itching, burning, or irritation. But if you experience more serious symptoms, like back or stomach pain, fever, or chills, talk to your healthcare provider right away. This is a sign that you may have a more serious infection.
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Monistat (miconazole) is an antifungal medication that’s used to treat vaginal yeast infections (vaginal candidiasis). Vaginal candidiasis is an infection caused by a type of yeast (which is a type of fungus) called Candida.
Monistat is available over the counter (OTC), which means you don’t need a prescription to buy it. You may see other miconazole products at your local pharmacy, but Monistat products are specifically designed to treat vaginal yeast infections.
If you have a vaginal yeast infection, you may have a few questions about how to use Monistat and whether it’s the right treatment for you. Below, we’ll answer those questions and offer some tips so you can get the most out of your Monistat.
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1. How long does it take for Monistat to work?
For most people, Monistat starts to kick in within 24 hours of your first dose.
Even if you don’t feel relief in the first 24 hours, you should definitely feel some symptom improvement within 3 days. If you don’t feel any better within the 3 days, let your healthcare provider know.
Complete symptom relief should occur within 7 days of starting treatment. If you’re still having symptoms beyond that, talk to your provider. This could indicate that you have an infection Monistat can’t treat.
2. How do I use Monistat?
There are multiple versions of OTC Monistat available. They’re available as 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day treatments.
| Cream | Suppositories | Ovules | Ointment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-day treatment | X (no generic) | X (no generic) | ||
| 3-day treatment | X | X | X | |
| 7-day treatment | X | X |
All products are available in generic forms, except for the 3-day ovules and 1-day ointment. Each product may have different instructions for how to use it, but there are a couple general tips you can follow:
Use at night. Most Monistat products should be used at bedtime. Using it right before you lay down can prevent leakage.
Lay down or stand up in the right position. It’s best to lay down with your knees bent, or stand up with your knees slightly bent when inserting a Monistat product.
Wear a pad or panty liner. Monistat can leak out overnight and stain clothes and bedsheets. So it’s a good idea to wear a pad or panty liner to prevent this.
There might be an additional cream. Some Monistat products come with an additional Monistat 2% cream to use on the outside of the vagina. This can be used to relieve itching and discomfort on the outside of the vagina for up to 7 days. The 7-day cream can also be used on the outside of the vagina.
Creams
The Monistat creams are available in different strengths. The 3-day cream is available in a 4% strength and the 7-day cream comes in a 2% strength.
These products come with an applicator to help insert the cream into the vagina. Depending on the product, the applicator may be pre-filled with cream, or you may receive both a tube of cream and applicators that you fill yourself.
Once your applicator is ready, you’ll insert the applicator into the vagina as far as it will go. You’ll push the plunger all the way in to release the cream into the vagina.
Suppositories
The Monistat 3-day suppository is available in a 200 mg strength. Generic Monistat 7-day suppositories are also available in a 100 mg strength. You’ll use an applicator to insert one suppository into the vagina every evening for 3 or 7 days depending on what product you use. You’ll use a new suppository with each dose.
Ovules
Monistat ovules are egg-shaped forms of the medication designed to dissolve in the vagina. The Monistat 1-day ovule is 1200 mg and the Monistat 3-day ovule is 200 mg. To use the ovules, you place it into an applicator that’s then inserted into the vagina.
Ointment
The Monistat 1-day ointment is unique because it contains tioconazole 6.5% (not miconazole like the other Monistat products). It’s available as an applicator that’s pre-filled with ointment to be inserted into the vagina.
3. How do I know which Monistat product to take?
All Monistat products work equally well. They all treat vaginal yeast infections in a similar amount of time even though they are taken for different lengths of time. This means that a 1-day treatment may still take a full 7 days before your infection is fully treated.
But there are a few situations where one Monistat product may be recommended over another:
If you’re pregnant. Monistat 7-day treatment is recommended if you’re pregnant. It delivers the lowest amount of medication per day over a 7-day period.
If you have diabetes. Monistat 7-day treatment is recommended if you have diabetes.
If you want to use treatment during the day. The Monistat 1-day ovule can be used during the day. Other products are best to use at night since leakage is possible.
If you want a less messy treatment. The Monistat 1-day and 3-day ovules may be less messy than creams, ointments, or suppositories.
4. What should I avoid when using Monistat?
It’s important to know about the few products and activities that should be avoided while taking Monistat. These include:
Tampons, douches, and spermicides. Avoid using tampons, douches, and spermicides while taking Monistat. They can affect how well Monistat works by absorbing some of the medication. They may also make your symptoms feel worse. But know that you can use Monistat while you’re on your period, it’s just better to stick to pads and panty liners until your yeast infection is cleared.
Condoms and diaphragms. Monistat can break down condoms and diaphragms. This means they’ll be less effective at preventing sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy.
Sex. Avoiding vaginal sex while treating a yeast infection can help prevent your symptoms from getting worse. It’s best to wait until your infection is fully treated (7 days).
5. What happens if I miss a dose of Monistat?
If you miss a dose of Monistat, use it as soon as you remember. If it’s close to your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your usual dosing schedule. Never apply two doses at once.
6. What if I experience side effects from Monistat?
The most common side effects of Monistat are itching, burning, and irritation in the vaginal area. Stomach cramping is also possible. These side effects are usually mild.
If you experience more severe side effects, it may not be from Monistat. It may be that you have a more serious infection than originally expected. This includes:
Lower stomach, back, or shoulder pain
Fever or chills
Vaginal discharge that smells abnormal to you
Skin rash or hives
If you have these symptoms, let your healthcare provider know right away.
The bottom line
Monistat is a medication that’s FDA approved to treat vaginal yeast infections. It’s available as 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day treatments that you insert inside your vagina.
You may start to feel better within 24 hours of starting Monistat, but it can take longer to fully treat your infection. If you don’t feel any symptom improvement within 3 days, or if your infection isn’t fully treated within 7 days, talk to your healthcare provider.
The common Monistat side effects include vaginal pain, itching, and irritation. But they’re usually mild. If you develop back or stomach pain, fevers, or chills, reach out to your provider. This is a sign that you have a more serious infection that Monistat may not be able to treat.
You should avoid tampons while using Monistat. And it’s best to avoid vaginal sex until your infection is fully treated (7 days). If you do have sex, keep in mind that Monistat can make condoms and diaphragms less effective.
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References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Candidiasis- vulvovaginal.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Vulvovaginal candidiasis.
Insight Pharmaceuticals LLC. (2021). Monistat 1 combination pack.
Insight Pharmaceuticals LLC. (2021). Monistat 1 tioconazole ointment 6.5%.
Insight Pharmaceuticals LLC. (2021). Monistat 3.
Insight Pharmaceuticals LLC. (2021). Monistat 7.
MedlinePlus. (2018). Miconazole vaginal.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). FDA-approved drugs.
